CAPTAINS of industry across Hampshire are urged to report business crimes as part of a new strategy by police chiefs who are pledging a crackdown.

Officers from Hampshire police have announced a commitment to cracking down on business crime in the county by providing a higher understanding of the impact and extent of business crime.

Their intention is to increase the business community’s confidence in the force and to improve intelligence and prevention by increasing their interaction and engagement with firms.

Developed with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) it has been prepared in recognition that crime against business has major implications.

David Springer, Hampshire FSB business crime spokesperson said that where companies are victims of crimes it can have a devastating impact on more than just a faceless company.

He said the individual, the business and also the local economy are affected by it, hurting turnover and viability, and with serious knock-on effects to the community.

He said: “Crimes against business continues to have huge cost implications to businesses. It is clearly not a victimless crime.

“Results of recent FSB Research show small firms lose up to £800 million a year as they fall victim to fraud and online crime, and that a quarter of all crime is related to business crime.

“We are delighted to continue to work with the Hampshire Constabulary and PCC to raise awareness and to ensure that business crime is on the local Police agenda.”

He added: “It is vital that the Police and businesses work together to try to combat this increasing threat.

Police chiefs hope that both Hampshire police and companies across the county will become jointly accountable for the delivery of this strategy.

In addition to support from Hampshire’s finest, they said it is vital that businesses both adopt preventative measures and report ‘every crime, every time’.

It will help the police to ascertain the true extent of crimes against business, and to then prioritise accordingly.

Accurate recording of business crime will enable accurate crime hot spotting and trends to help develop future crime prevention plans.

Simon Hayes, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Business crime is a real threat to the livelihood of businesses and can be devastating. It is vital that we look to tackle this type of crime.

“I am delighted that the vision for the strategy is to raise awareness of business crime and its effects, and to propose ways to reduce the problems, through practical measures and partnership working.”